THE "SUMMA THEOLOGICA"

345 FIRST MAN'S STATE Q. 98. ART. x
been necessary to make a division of rights when the human
race increased by generation. This is against the natural
law, according to which all things are in common, as Isidore
says (Etym. v. 4)- Therefore there would have been no
generation in the state of innocence.
On the contrary, It is written (Gen. i. 28) : Increase and
multiply, and fill the earth. But this increase could not
come about save by generation, since the original number
of mankind was two only. Therefore there would have
been generation in the state of innocence.
I answer that, In the state of innocence there would have
been generation of offspring for the multiplication of the
human race; otherwise man's sin would have been very
necessary, for such a great blessing to be its result. We
must, therefore, observe that man, by his nature, is established,
as it were, midway between corruptible and incorruptible
creatures, his soul being naturally incorruptible,
while his body is naturally corruptible. We must also
observe that nature's purpose appears to be different as
regards corruptible and incorruptible things. For that
seems to be the direct purpose of nature, which is invariable
and perpetual; while what is only for a time is seemingly
not the chief purpose of nature, but, as it were, subordinate
to something else; otherwise, when it ceased to exist,
nature's purpose would become void.
Therefore, since in things corruptible none is everlasting
and permanent except the species, it follows that the chief
purpose of nature is the good of the species ; for the preservation
of which natural generation is ordained. On the
other hand, incorruptible substances survive, not only in
the species, but also in the individual; wherefore even the
individuals are included in the chief purpose of nature.
Hence it belongs to man to beget offspring, on the part
of the naturallv corruptible body. But on the part of the
soul, which is incorruptible, it is fitting that the multitude
of individuals should be the direct purpose of nature, or
rather of the Author of nature, Who alone is the Creator of
the human soul. Wherefore, to provide for the multiplica-